orbit 1 of 2

verb

Definition of orbitnext
as in to circle
to travel completely around the moon orbits the Earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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orbit

2 of 2

noun

as in loop

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun orbit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of orbit are compass, gamut, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

When might compass be a better fit than orbit?

In some situations, the words compass and orbit are roughly equivalent. However, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

Where would gamut be a reasonable alternative to orbit?

The words gamut and orbit can be used in similar contexts, but gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

When can range be used instead of orbit?

The words range and orbit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

In what contexts can scope take the place of orbit?

Although the words scope and orbit have much in common, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

When would sweep be a good substitute for orbit?

The meanings of sweep and orbit largely overlap; however, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of orbit
Verb
It was built entirely in Canada, fueled by kerosene and ambition, and spearheaded by a startup with its eyes on orbit. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 July 2025 Discovery's days of spaceflight may long be over, but the historic NASA space shuttle may soon be on the move again – just not in orbit. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Noun
But, as the meteorologist Michael Lowry has pointed out, their instruments either are orbiting more infrequently or are inferior to the one being discontinued. —Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 2 July 2025 Mercury, which takes 88 days to orbit the sun, is visible for only a few weeks, or even days, at a time. —Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for orbit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orbit
  1. circle
  2. loop
  3. traverse
  4. circuit
  5. trajectory
  6. path
  7. route
Verb
  • The recorded flight path shows the aircraft circled a few times before landing.
    — Colson Thayer, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • The plane returned less than an hour after takeoff, circling twice before landing back at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 13 July 2025
Definition of circle
Noun
  • Sheen Falls Lodge is only a few miles outside the Ring of Kerry, the 111-mile loop that traces the coastline of the relaveragh Peninsula.
    — Peter Terzian, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025
  • But with two loops of the Mûr, another debate was over when the winner would attack — on the first loop, with 15km to go, or up the final climb.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Definition of loop
Verb
  • The scene was more amusing than threatening — onlookers whipped out cell phone cameras to document the sight of horses traversing the grounds.
    — Jim Newton, Mercury News, 12 July 2025
  • Created by the brand’s in-house team, the campaign features Zhao traversing the great outdoors, lush mountains, and cityscapes, eventually fleeing to the moon, all rendered via cutout paper collages.
    — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
Definition of traverse
Noun
  • Even before the collapse of the Northern California circuit, Del Mar has been an industry leader in field size for much of the past decade.
    — Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
  • On our first morning, my son and I followed a handy jogging map provided by La Palma on a circuit of the Via Pizzolungo.
    — Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025
Definition of circuit
Noun
  • A day at Wimbledon often means dinner at 1 a.m. and waking up seven hours later, and all the while, Riddle contends with preconceptions about being the partner of a sports star — especially one on an upward trajectory.
    — Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Had the season continued on that toilet trajectory, Briles was going to be fired.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
Definition of trajectory
Noun
  • Schneider highlighted that early signs of AI use cases — such as driving corporate headcount reductions and greater sales — have emerged and created a path towards reinvestment into future growth.
    — Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 July 2025
  • This week’s visit to South Carolina proves that he’s headed down that path.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
Definition of path
Noun
  • Should the Red Sox go that route to add the righty, Alex Cora could be looking at a legitimate (hypothetical) postseason rotation built to contend in October.
    — Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • Our e-commerce shipping model is built to allow last-minute switches between carriers, routes and even destination handling partners.
    — Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 11 July 2025
Definition of route

Browse Nearby Words

orb
orbit
orbited
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Cite this Entry

“Orbit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orbit. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on orbit

Nglish: Translation of orbit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about orbit

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